Scupper



' S. P. MEAD April 14, 1931.

SCUPPER Filed Dec. 26, 1929 INVENTOR \iPMead ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14,1931 UNITED STATES STUART P. MEAID, 0F TACOMA, WASHINGTON SGUPPERApplication filed December 26, 1929. Serial No. 416,672.

This invention relates to improvements in scuppers such as usedinconnection with all types of ships, for example, war vessels, yachts,houseboats, barges, etc., and it consists of the constructions,combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a scupper made of yieldablematerial, for example, molded, reinforced rubber, which, by virtue ofthe combined qualities of flexibility and toughness, enables theproduction of such a device at a low cost as well as a more eflicientmaintenance thereof inasmuch as it .will withstand blows with lesslikelihood of damage either to itself or to the object imparting theblow than would be the case if the scupper were made of metal.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is aperspective view illustrating the installation of the improved scupperupon the side plates of a. ship.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section illustrating a back check valveused in conjunction with the scupper.

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view of the scupper particularlyillustrating the reinforcement of the rubber.

Fig. 4. is a detail cross-section taken substantially on the line 44 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a form of the scupper modified to over-reachan armor belt on the ship.

Fig. 6 is. an elevation of a modified form of the scupper assuming theshape of an elbow.

As is commonly known, especially among persons having to do with themanagement of ships, a scupper is a device or an arrangement of somesort for the purpose of an overboard discharge of water. Scuppers made.of metal are known and are in use and by virtue of their outstandingposition on the side of the ship are subject to being struck anddamaged.

In addition to being heavy, such scuppers .are costly to repair, andsince these devices Hare sometim s truck with such f rce as to destroythem beyond repair, an ever higher cost is entailed by virtue of thenecessity of a complete replacement.

Other disadvantages of metallic scuppers are that a trail of rust willsoon appear at the sides and especially below the place of connectionwith the plates of the ship as well as the possibility of setting up agalvanic action. The unsightliness of streaks of rust, especially on warvessels having a project.- in armor belt is apparent enough, and in anycase is objectionable because of the dis coloration of the side of theship.

All of theforegoing objections are obviated entirely by making thescupper 1 of amaterial such as rubber. The scupper cornprises a spout 2and a surrounding flange 3. This flange is continuous and the upper partof it bridges the opening 4, at which the scupper has communication withthe outlet side of a casing 5 (Fig. 2) containing a back check valve 6.The inlet side of this casing has connection with a soil pipe 7 in thepresent instance, but obviously the connection of the scupper may bewith anything else.

A rectangular metallic annulus 8 is made to bear against the outside ofthe flange 3 not only to insure pressing the flange against the sideplates 9 of the ship, but also to furnish a sufficiently stoutfoundation or bearing for the heads of the securing means 10. Thesecuring means may comprise screws or bolts, the preference beingoptional with the person making the installation.

A reinforcement 11 imparts more strength and toughness to the scupper 1than the rubber or other yielding material ofwhich it is made possesses.This reinforcement may comprise a wire or cloth insert, a preferreddisposition of the reinforcing strands being longitudinally of the spout2, as clearly. designated in Fig, 3, and as also suggested in Fig; 4:.These strands may extend into the flange 3,in any appropriate way, butin merging the spout strands with the flange strands of thereinforcement, consideration must be. given to the possibility of thespout being struck in almost any lateral direction with a on q blin e erto a greater 9r lesser ex ent Assuming thespout to bestruck sidewise,

length, probably at a point near their connection with the flange 3. Ifthe disposition 6f the strands was'other than longitudinah.

-the yielding the' reofeiwith the rubber spout -1..and,capab1e ofenduring liard use.

'wouldiiotbe S flfiifOrm 1 m? elan i flh'fi t possibility would-be thatthey migh fitilto 7 flexibility of the rubberyis augmented by the"reinforcement ren function as a reinforcement. The inherent dering itextremely tough Anyfordinary blow of'suiiieient-force to merely rdonblethe rubber scupper over. An 1 additional adyantage ofthe rubber. scupperf I is thatfit isfnon-corro' sive. Therefore, it is; notsubjectv 'to rls ing and will notset up a; galyanic faction; More0yer, the rubber,

fscupper {does not require; painting. 1-; pig;

ment of a colortomatch that ofthe-ship will lt' is v erf ectly obviousalscupperlnade 1o fthe.material mentioned wiil'be much lightyer than"one made of metal. Various shapes 1 Twill be adopted, to suit particularpurposes. For'exampleg in F'ig 5, the scupper 1 is particu'l'arlyshape'd 1to: extend well beyond the armor belt 12, while in 6 it has thestorm o f an elbow which will direct the Water in .a' downward path'rather 7 than in .a parabolic stream, as in the instance of the. spout2 in Figs. and 21,-. 1 it e r a The mann r ofinstallation of the soupperwill begclearly understood from an inspection, "of; Figs.; 1 andOriginally thefiange imperforatefand thefrequisite holesi'will' be cr'pnnched where'needed when, the installation is made. For eXample,- ifthe fastening means 10 "will beQemp-loyed as the common connec- "of thel ialve (casing The same fastening means willthenbe. employedto-secureboth ff? reaking. wh nfs ckby some. passing obstrl letiomasfa lighter;float, etc. ,hence the f tendencydsto make :the scupper es short fisf 1,fPQiSSiH-l However, the eare in stances when scope of theclaims.

cla'iinz p qi ,1 L' A'scupper comprising a spout of yieldemploymentofirubber or; V

of the improved scupper is'that of a general- 1y preferred form,obviously modifications and changes may be made without departing j ablematerial, and reinforcing means emr -b odied therein runninglongitudinallyof the gjspout to harmoniously yield with the' spout*severely ,damage fa metallic scupp'er would when struck by' anobstruction.

2 A, scupper comprising a rubber spent with angentrance, opening, aflange made in:

tegral; with Y the spout and of the" same mate- 7 the scuppen extendinglongitudinally of the f i a flange dcheck yalye easing confronting one,sideof the supp o1:ting plate and having a discharge communicating withan opening in theplate, a scupper: comprising av spout from ithe spirit@f the j 1 inyentizon and 1 the s rial having aportion bridgingtheopening,

having a flange oonfrontingthe other side 'i of the supporting plateiand Communicating t s i p ew ng m an P sin through thesupportingplate'and the'flanges:

of the casing andscupper to p'rovide alcom mon connector, and, ametallicann nlus'facing the outside of the scupperflange providing a:foundationfor said securingmeansi' STUART P. MEAD.

tors-ofthe scupp-er 1 and theI yalve casing .5 Y I he holes in;theiflenge 3 w ll be punched at ,places t agr e with thejhol es intheflange: E9

other yielding material makesit'p0ssib1eto" i xtend" the s ppeif l"farther trom; the.v side ofthe shipthan, would; ordinarilyjbe V6111, ftured withmetallic scuppers.= It been state hattheeanger withthe werethat t, is] d sirabl to extendfihe'scupper a con iderable distanc irom'he s de of. the ship,

11d y'lnh iIlgit-ofrubber, the danger of breakage by striking anobstructien'need not I j Q i

